Small-scale protests in Russia’s Far East & Siberia begin day of pro-Navalny demonstrations (VIDEOS)

Supporters of jailed opposition figure Alexey Navalny are staging protests in numerous Russian cities on Sunday. One of the first events happened in Vladivostok, where people gathered on the frozen waters of Amur Bay.

Dozens of protesters defied not only the authorities but also local representatives of Navalny’s own team, who said they were endangering themselves by gathering on the ice. Off the coast, the demonstrators walked in circles in a way resembling traditional Russian folk dancing and chanted slogans.

© Sputnik / Vitaly Ankov

The local rescue service deployed a hovercraft, but according to local media, it malfunctioned. Several people were detained by police before the ice walk. Caught in the crossfire were a few enthusiasts of ice fishing, whose Sunday plans were disrupted by the protest.

In Khabarovsk, there was a small rally in the central city square which lasted for about an hour. Just like the protest in Vladivostok, it was not sanctioned, so the police deployed scores of troops and called for people to disperse. Several people were taken into custody, but otherwise the rally was uneventful.

Somewhat larger protest marches took place in the Siberian cities of Novosibirsk and Irkutsk. In Yakutsk, only a handful of protesters showed up, possibly due to the temperature (around -40C) and heavy snowfall.

The main protest event is expected in Moscow. Last week, a pro-Navalny rally in the Russian capital resulted in clashes with the police and hundreds of people being arrested. The city authorities did not permit the protest this Sunday, citing the Covid-19 pandemic, but supporters of the opposition figure intend to ignore the ban.

Navalny remains in custody pending a court decision regarding his parole case. He was arrested earlier this month after returning to Russia from Germany, where he received medical treatment after an alleged poisoning. Protesters seek to pressure the Russian government into releasing him.

Also on rt.com

Pro-western liberal, anti-migrant nationalist, or political opportunist: Who exactly is Russian opposition figure Alexey Navalny?

Like this story? Share it with a friend!

source https://www.rt.com/russia/514163-navalny-protests-russian-cities/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=RSS